The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets (sa) - Volume I — Page 180
Seal of the Prophets - Volume I 180 found the opportunity to do so, in the form of a common worship. Hence, with reference to this early era, historians write that one time the Holy Prophet sa and Ḥaḍrat ‘ Alī ra were offering their Ṣalāt in a valley of Makkah, when suddenly Abū Ṭālib passed by. Until then, Abū Ṭālib was completely unaware of Islām, thus, he stood there and observed this spectacle with great amazement. When the Holy Prophet sa completed his Ṣalāt , he asked, “What religion is this, which you have adopted?” The Holy Prophet sa responded, “Uncle! This is the religion of God and of Abraham. ” Then, the Holy Prophet sa briefly presented an invitation to Islām before Abū Ṭālib, but he brushed it off saying, “I cannot forsake the religion of my ancestors. ” But with that he also addressed his son Ḥaḍrat ‘ Alī ra and said, “My son, undoubtedly, do support Muḥammad sa , for I trust that he shall call you towards nothing but goodness. ” 1 Another incident, perhaps close to this era is that, Sa‘d bin Abī Waqqāṣ and a handful of Muslims were offering their Ṣalāt in a valley, when suddenly a few idolaters appeared and reproached them for their new form of worship. This led to a mutual altercation. 2 Commencement of Public Preaching A state of silent and concealed preaching was still in practice and approximately three years had passed since the prophetic commission of the Holy Prophet sa. The fourth year had begun when divine command was revealed that: “O Prophet! Declare openly that with which thou art commanded” 3 Shortly thereafter the following verse was revealed: “And warn thy nearest kinsmen” 4 1 * As-Sīratun-Nabawiyyah, By Abū Muḥammad ‘Abdul-Malik bin Hishām, p. 187, Bābu Dhikri anna ‘Aliyyabna Abī Ṭālibin ra Awwalu Dhakarin Aslama, Dārul-Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (2001) 2 * Tārīkhuṭ- Ṭabarī, By Abū Ja‘far Muḥammad bin Al-Jarīr Ṭabarī, Volume 2, p. 228, Bābu Dhikril- Khabri ‘ammā kāna min Amri Nabiyyillāhi sa ‘inda Ibtidā’illāhi Ta‘ālā, D ārul-Fikr, Beirut, Lebanon, Second Edition (2002) 3 Al-Ḥijr (15:95) 4 Ash-Shu‘arā’ (26:215)